Signal device.



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No.861,954. PATENTED.JULY30,1907. R.DAWSON.'

SIGNAL DEVICE.

APPLIGATION TILED MAY 26,1906.

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Wit" en DOIZ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

RALPH DAWSON, OF LEXINGTON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ELMER F.

DAWSON, OF LEXINGTON, MICHIGAN.

SIGNAL DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH DAWSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lexington, in the county of Sanilac and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Signal Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a tradesmans indicator primarily designed for domestic use and serving under proper manipulation to advise any one or more of certain tradesmen that the householder desires the articles noted by the indicator.

The main object of the present invention is the production of an indicator designed-to be secured in an exposed position so as to be readily visible to a passing tradesman, and constructed to indicate to the tradesman the desire of the customer for certain articles.

The invention will be described in the following specification, reference being had particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective illustrating the use of my improved indicator, Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of the same, Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section viewed from the rear, Fig. 4 is a similar section taken at right angles to Fig. 3, Fig. 5 is a perspective of one of the indicating slides.

Referring to the drawings my improved indicator comprises a base 1, of the desired size, to which is secured a receptacle 2 including side walls 3 and 4, the latter being of lessv height than the former, a top which rests upon the upper edge of the wall 4, and a door 6, having hinged connection with the side wall 3 and forming in effect the rear wall of the receptacle. The door terminates at its upper edge in alinement with the top wall 5. The receptacle is so arranged relative to the base plate that the side wall 4 is spaced a greater distance from the side edge of said plate than the wall 3, whereby to provide a space for the convenient operation of the indicating slides, as hereinafter described.

The top 5 of the receptacle extends beyond the upper edge of the side wall 4, and forms the base for an order box 7, constructed by utilizing the side wall 3 of the receptacle above the top 5 and in providing said top 5 with an additional side wall 8, a rear wall 9, and a forward or front wall 10, Which extends at right angles to the partition 5 some distance inward from its forward edge. The wall 10 extends above the upper edges of the walls 3, 8 and 9 of the receptacle, the upper edges of the side walls 3 and 8 being preferably inclined downwardly and rearwardly, as shown. A cover 11 is provided for the order box designed to rest upon and overlie the upper edges of the side and rear walls, said cover having hinged connection at its forward edge with the wall 10 of the box.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 26,1906. Serial No. 318,904.

Patented Ju1y 30, 1907.

Y The face plate 12 of the indicator is preferably of the full width of the base 1, and extends to the upper edge of the wall 1.0 of the order box, being connected to said wall bya strip 13. By preference the upper corners of the face plate are rounded and the strip 13 connects the side edges of the wall 1.0 and of the face plate above the partition 5, providing in effect a housing forward of the order box, as clearly shown in Fig. 4-. The face plate is formed in that portion in front of the housing referred to with an opening 14, through which the face or front surface of the wall 10 is exposed. The surface of the wall 10 visible through the opening 14 is provided with indicating data, by printing or otherwise to advise a particular tradesman that an order is awaiting him. This is preferably accomplished by having a series of indicating columns 15 in which is arranged a word or words to indicate the character of dealer desired, and adjacent each of the columns is arranged a spring clip 16, preferably in the form of a U-shaped strip secured in the wall 10. The clip is designed to receive a card bearing a number by which a particular tradesman is known, or if preferred the card may bear the name of the particular tradesman.

Immediately in rear of the face plate the side walls 3 and 4 are formed with a series of transversely arranged guide strips 17, which are disposed in parallel relation and spaced equidistant apart throughout practically the entire height ofthe wall 4. Each of the guide strips 17 is provided on the upper and lower surfaces with guideways 18 extending centrally and longitudinally thereof. The plates 19 and 20, of transparent material, as glass, are secured on opposite sides of the guide strips, the forward plate 19 resting in contact with the rear face of the indicator, while the plate 20 bears directly against the rear edges of the guide strips, these plates being preferably coextensive in height and width with the space included within the plane of a series of guide strips.

The indicating slide 21 is mounted between each of the respective guide strips, the edges of said slide being mounted in the guideways 18 in adjacent surfaces of the respective strips, whereby longitudinal movement of the slide is provided for. The slides 21 are preferably about half the length of the respective guide strips, and are constructed of a single strip of material, preferably tin or the like, suitably formed at one end for the reception of a handle 22, of rod form having an integral handle portion 22-23 at its free end. Each strip bears suitable indicating data, preferably the name of an article to be furnished by the tradesman. The letters forming the word are cut from the material of the strip, providing in effect a stencil strip, for a purpose hereinafter described. The handles project through openings formed in the side wall 4 of the receptacle, said openings being arranged, of course, in alinement with the space between the respective guide strips 17 so as to provide for longitudinal movement of the strips in the guideways, it being understood that the handle proper of the rod 22 projects beyond the surface of the wall 4 for convenience in operation.

The face plate 120i the indicator below the opening 1 i and adjacent one side edge of said plate is formed with an opening 24, said opening being approximately half the width and the full length of the space included by the guide strips 17 and arranged to expose the slides to view only when said slides are at their limit of inward movement. The face plate is further provided with an inscribing surface 25, such as a blackboard or pad, which is arranged opposite the opening 24 and practically coextensive in length therewith. As the opening 24 is positioned at one side of the face plate it is obvious that the data on the slides is visible when the latter are at their limit of inward movement, that portion of the face plate covered by the inscribing surface serving to conceal said slides when they are at their limit of downward movement, as shown iii Fig. 3.

If preferred an alarm 26 may be secured to the side wall 4 in rear of the face plate, the conducting wires 27 for which may be led to any suitable point within the house, and a push button or pull 28 is positioned in the face plate from which conductors 29, or the operating wire in the case of a bell, may lead to a bell also positioned within the house. By this arrangement the tradesman may notify the occupant of the house of the fact that he has taken the order, or said occupant may sound the alarm 26 to direct the attention of the tradesman to any particular fact desired.

In use the number or name of the particular tradesman desired is supported in the clip 16 opposite the character or word indicating the nature of the business of the tradesman, and the slides 21 operated to show to the tradesman the goods desired. The amount of said goods may be indicated on the inscribing surface, or a special written order therefor may be placed in the housing formed between the face plate and the wall 10. The tradesman after filling the order can place the goods delivered in the order box, or in the receptacle 2, preferably sounding the alarm within the house to inclicate to the occupant the delivery of the order. By constructing the slides of a stencil type any means of illumination within the receptacle 2 will serve to render the operating slides clearly visible at night.

The indicator as a whole is of very simple construction'and is designed to be secured to the casing of a door or the like so that it may be visible to passing tradesmen, who by inspection of the indicator may readily determine whether the occupant desires any article in his particular line Without the necessity of compelling the occupant to see the tradesman and verbally deliver the order.

A space 30 provided in rear of beyond the side wall 4 of the receptacle serves for the reception of small articles, as milk jars or the like, while the projection of the face plate beyond the side wall Will protect the operating handles of the indicating slides.

Having thus described the inventionwhat is claimed as new, is:

1. An indicator comprising a receptacle, an order box secured thereabove, a face plate'extending above the order box and formed with an opening to expose the forward wall of said box, and means carried by said exposed wall for removably supporting a series of cards.

2. An indicator comprising a receptacle, an order box secured thereabove, a face plate extending above the order box and formed with an opening to expose the forward wall of said box, said forward wall being divided into columns bearing suitable data, and card supporting clips secured to said wall in alinement with each other.

An indicator comprising a closed receptacle, an order box supported above the receptacle, a face plate overlying the forward wall of the receptacle and order box, said face plate being formed with an opening to expose the forward wall of the order box and with a second opening to expose a portion of the forward wall of the receptacle, and a series of independently movable data bearing slides supported by the forward Wall of the receptacle.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RALPH DAWSON.

Witnesses ELMER F. Dawson, RUDOLPH PAPST, Jr.

the face plate 12 and 

